The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-02

II am SIXTEEN" and, mademoiselle,
/ live here. am Andre Theriot."
"Ah, you are the the gardener Their
lots son. / like him." nodding her
head gravely. HE is good man.
He let's me pick the nectarines myself.
Do you want q rose, Andrea" holding
out one, with the air OF young EN-
press. Andre put out his hand for it,
when she drew it back, with a mis-
chievous laugh.
"Come, now, I'm going to treat you
as madame does me, when she gives
me bonbons. You must spell rose
before you get it,"
The lads handsome face flushed
crimson.
"But, mamseile, he stammered,
~ can't spell. l don't know my let
ters"
Don't know your letters, you,
big, strong boy of sixteen! oh, you
must be very lazyl Why don't you
Learnt"
"But, mamselle, my father is too
poor to send me to school. | wish i
could learn. All, mon Dieu, if / could,
only learn to read, l would be so
happyl" clasping his hand. with the,
big tears in his eyes. 49,:
"You shall earn to read Andre!"
Pity and sympathy were at work in
that warm little heart. al will teach
you myself. Meet me tomorrow morn,
ing at the summer. house Oh the lake.
l will bring books, and will teach
you"
"You, mamselle!" Andre cried stu
pefed. II an angel from heaven had
offered to teach him, he could not
have been more astonished than at
this condescension from his beautiful
little chatelaine.
"And why not? OF course | shall
not tell Madame Duloc or anybody.
for they would make such fuss. But
| be in the summer-house tomorrow"
OF course Andre did not fail to obey.
He never dreamed OF disputing her or
ders, and the lad was wild to learn.
Blanche was an exacting and impa-
tient little teacher, but Andre was so
bright and eager that in five
months he had almost reached the
limit OF Blanches own small acquire
ments. She had grown extremely
fond OF the handsome lad, so ready
and willing to amuse her; and as for
him, he was her abject slave. All dis
tinctions OF rank were forgotten in
this pleasant companionship 80 soon
to cease.
One morning the Count returned I'M
expectedly from Paris. "Where is
Blanche?" he asked Madame Duloc.
"Mademoisele is out in the
grounds" she said, TREMENDOUSLY. 81
have sent Celine for her"
without you, Madame Duloc" he
said, sternly; do you tell me my
daughter is allowed to wander about
aloneY"
"Ah, mon Dieu, but she will let no
one follow herl' the poor governess
cried, desperately.
"Since you cannot control the
Countess, madame, allow me to tell
you, your services are no longer need
ed at Beaujolais." The Count STROBE
off in search OF his daughter in ter
rible fury. 1t did not lessen when. aft
er a half-hour's search, she was not
to be found. When near the lake, hi
heard voices and laughter in the little
summer-houss.
Pushing open the door, he saw q
sight which nearly struck him dumb
Side by side on the bench sat the rep
resentative OF the Maupassants anc
peasant boy. They were bending
over the same book, and the COLDER
curls OF Blanche mingled with the
black hair of her companion.
"Blanchel" cried the Count, in q
voice OF thunder.
The little girl sprang to her feet
turning pale, but she did not tremble
"What are you doing with thai
boy?"
II am teaching him to read, papa
} The little girls tones did not falter
though she was horribly frightened.
Teaching him to read" the count
was so furious that mis- voice trembled
Back with you to the chateau.yo,
: wicked child, and l will settle will
, you later. But you, you base-born
insolent peasant, l will lash you lik
the hound you arel" He raised hi
riding.whip, but Blanche seized it ant
; confronted him with pale face anC
J flashing eyes. =.
, "You shall not strike him, papal'
, she cried. al made him come. III
, dared not refuse. II you strike an!
one, strike me, for did it,"
/ Andre through his whole life neve
, forgot that picture. The man witt
/ his face convulsed by fury. the littl
girl looking up with her brave eyes
ready and willing to suffer in his stead
| After minute the Count seemed t.
recover himself. .